This amazing mosque was erected between 1356 and 1361 next to the Citadel of Cairo. The cost of the project was so high that it was never fully completed and Sultan Hasan himself was murdered and his body hidden, so that he was never buried in the mausoleum. It is a huge complex, measuring 65 by 140 m, and four storey high, making it one of the largest mosques in Cairo, The main function of the building was as a madrassa with tomb attached but its size and the beauty of its prayer hall meant that it was recognized as a congregational mosque as well.
The basic plan of the building consists of a central courtyard leading off into four large iwans. The largest iwan is the prayer hall and behind this is the domed mausoleum. As this was a madrassa for the four rites of Sunni law there were four separate courtyards, one for each of the rites. Around each of these courtyards were the students' rooms arranged in four tiers. Many of the rooms were equipped with latrines and those facing the street had large windows.
IWNTA - SIGHTSEEING - Cairo - Sultan Hassan Mosque
